Improved folding chair or table



UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

FERDINAND LDKE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED FOLDING CHAIR OR TABLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND LDKE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Chairs, Tables, Src.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of this invention, taken in theplane indicated by the line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional inverted plan, the line y y, Fig. 1, indicating the plane of section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section ot' the same, the plane of section being indicated by the line .e z, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a,

sectional side elevation, and Fig. 5 a hori- Zontal section of a modilication of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

rlhis invention consists in a folding chair, table, or other similar article, the seat or top of which is made of canvas or other flexible material, and supported by a series of radiating arms, which are hinged to a central hub secured to the upper end of a longitudinally-slidin g staff, in combination with hinged braces connected to the radiating-arms and made to radiate from a sleeve through which the staff slides, and which is supported by hinged legs, connecting by means of toggle-arms with a ring fitted on thelower end of the central staii' in such a manner that by expanding the legs and depressing the central staf the seat or top is expanded and rendered rigid, and at the same time the togglearms assume such a position that they retain the legs and prevent them from collapsing accidentally; but by slightly lraising the central staff the togglearms are brought in such a position that the the chair, table, or other article can be folded up with the greatest convenience and in a small compass. lf desired, the legs and seat or top'may be disconnected and each folded or expanded separately.

A represents a statt' made of iron or any other suitable material. Secured to the upper end of this staif is a hub, B, of wood or any other suitable material, and provided with a series of radiating arms, C, which can be made to fold down parallel with the staff, or which may be brought in a horizontal position, as

Vshown in the drawings. A piece, D, of canvas,

leather, or other iiexible material, with or without stuffing, is secured to the outer surfaces of the arms G, and when the arms are expanded this piece of canvas or other material forms the seat of a chair or the top of a table or other piece of furniture, as the case may be.v Each of the arms C connects by a brace, E, with a sleeve, F, which is litted loosely on the staff A. If the staff is pushed up or the sleeve allowed to slide down on the same, the radiating arms and braces fold up close to the stan.

The sleeve F is hinged to the upper ends of three (or more) legs, G, which support the chair, table, or other article, and which can be folded or spread as occasion may require. To prevent them from spreading any farther than desirable, or from collapsing spontaneously when the chair or other article is in use, each legis connected bya hinged arm, H, with a ring, I, which is tted to the statt' A either firmly or loosely, but so that it is prevented from moving in a longitudinal direction.

When the stai A is depressed so as to unfold the seat or top, the arms H are brought in such a position that they form toggle-arms, which will prevent the legs being folded until their inner ends are raised above a horizontal plane passing through the pivots which connect them to the legs. Dy this arrange ment the upward motion of the central staff causes the seat or top to fold simultaneously with the toggle-arms H, which lock the legs, and also prevent the seat or top from collaps` ing spontaneously. If desired,however, the legs may be hinged to the central statt', as shown in Figs. and 5 of the drawings, and the toggle-arms, instead of being hinged to a ring, I, may be connected to a slide which moves up and down in slots in the lower end of the central staff. The sleeve to which the radiating-arms are connected which form or support the seat or top is not connected to the legs, and when the top is expanded it is held up by a pin passing transversely through the staff.

A chair or table can thus be produced which is very light, which will fold up in a small compass, and which can be transported with ease and unfolded with facility.

l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters ,Patentf 1. The vertically-sliding steif A, with hub B and radiating :unis G, in combination with :L sleeve, F, braces E, hinged legs G, and tog;- g'le arms 11,2111 constructed and operating substentially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of therndiating arms C l and braces E withy a piece7 D, of flexible materin'l, and with legs G, substantiallly as and for the purpose described.

3. The toggleerms H, in combination with the folding legs Gr and central stall', A, applied and operating substantially as and for the purpose specied.

FERDINAND LUDKF. Witnesses:

WM. F. MGNAMARA, M. M. LIVINGSTON. 

